Online Casino Slots Trivia

Slot machines are the most popular casino game in the world, both at land-based casinos and on Internet gambling sites. This article reveals some little-known facts about online slot machines.

Generally, slot machines account for about 70% of an online casino's income.

The main categories of online slot machines include classic 3-reel slots, video slots, fruit machines, and progressive slots.

Classic 3-reel slots are computerized versions of the slot machines that were invented by Charles Fey in 1887.

Classic 3-reel slots are perfect games for the beginning slots player because of their easy and straightforward format.

Video slots are modern 5-reel slot machines. Many of the newer video slots games have bonus features, such as free spins.

Fruit machines, also known as Amusement with Prizes games, are UK-style slot machines. They are very common in British pubs.

Online progressive slots accumulate deposits from their players from a number of online casinos to create jackpots that grow by the minute.

Online progressive slots can be 3-reel or 5-reel, have bonus features, and have multiple pay-lines. For example, Major Millions was a 3-reel, 3 pay-line slot game when it was first launched. Now there is also a 5-reel, 15 pay-line version.

Cash Splash was the first online progressive jackpot. It was launched in 1998 by Microgaming software.

Mega Millions, a Microgaming progressive slot machine, is the only progressive jackpot that has ever paid out jackpots exceeding $1,000,000.

There are now over 150 companies that provide software solutions for online gambling casinos.

The major software providers for the online gambling industry include Microgaming, Playtech, Realtime Gaming, Boss Media, Rival, Vegas Technology, Parlay, and Cryptologic.

Microgaming developed the first "genuine" online casino software in 1994. Cryptologic and Boss Media were established in 1996, Parlay and Realtime Gaming were launched in 1998, Playtech was founded in 1999, Vegas Technology was established in 2005, and Rival was launched in 2006.

The majority of online slot machines have a unique theme, such as success and old money, secret potions and jewels, Indians and squaws, bees and honey, pirates and ships, hillbillies, American diners, science fiction, chocolate, Las Vegas showgirls, witches, romance, mythology, and Christmas.

It is estimated that Microgaming casinos account for about 70% of online gambling revenue.

Pay-lines at online slot machines range from 1 to 100. Single pay-line slots have been around since slot machines were invented back in 1887. Microgaming introduced Cashapillar, its first 100 pay-line slot machine, in May, 2008.

The average payout percentage is defined as the percentage of winnings to wagered amounts. For example, if there are $97.69 in winnings for every $100 wagered, the payout percentage is 97.69%. Likewise, if there are $93.45 in winnings for every $100 wagered, the payout percentage is 93.45%. Payout percentages for online slots range from 89% to 99.5%.

Online slots come in both download and no download versions. The download versions are more popular because there is a wider selection of games to choose from.

Online slots games have better odds than those at land-based casinos.

Tomb Raider is probably the most successful online slot machine game to date. Tomb Raider's success is partly due to its association with the popular computer game, The Tomb Raider Series. A sequel to the game, Tomb Raider - Secret of the Sword, was introduced April, 2008.

So there you have it, 20 little-known facts about online slot machines. Whether you play slots online or at a land-based casino, remember to gamble only with the money you can afford to lose. Decide beforehand how much you wish to spend, and don't exceed your spending limit should you lose. Finally, have fun and quit while you are ahead.

Gregory DeVictor is a consultant who has been developing and marketing web sites since 1999.

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The Legal Matters Concerning Online Casinos

If you are a fan of card games, such as Texas Hold Em or Five Card Stud, then you know all about online casinos, or you should know about them. They are casinos that you find online and are just like the real thing, minus the cocktail waitresses offering free drinks.

But not everything is sunshine and roses for these casinos. Many casinos online are facing legal issues from the United States Federal government due to an old act passed in the sixties. Is it forbidden to gamble online?

In 1961, the Interstate Wire Act or also known as the Federal Wire Act was passed that banned betting or gambling over the telephone. Lawmakers against online casinos say that this applies to the internet as well and are looking to fine these casinos big money for breaking the law. But opponents of the bill point out that it does not apply to internet gaming; ergo it should not be illegal and the casinos online should not be fined.

All legalities aside, there are many casinos online that offer a wide variety of card games, slots, roulette, horse racing and even card games, such as Black Jack. There is literally something for everyone. Many of the best poker players in the industry now utilize online gambling as a way to hone their skills and rake up big payouts that allow them to play live.

How many hands of poker are we talking about? Try a couple hundred hands in an hour. Most players utilize two or three computers at one time so they can play many hands at once. Think about the concentration skills of those types of online players!

Online casinos are swiftly gaining in popularity, regardless of whatever legality issues are being debated. If you find yourself looking to play, then just use some caution. The money is just as easily spent online as it is in a regular casino.

If you do find you are becoming addicted to gambling, then there are many groups out there to help you. Most casinos offer links to help groups that teach people about the dangers of gambling. If you can control your spending habits and enjoy the occasional game of poker or other card games, such as Black Jack, then have fun with it and enjoy.

Browse to Mike Selvon portal to find out more about online casinos series. We greatly appreciate your feedback at our gambling blog.

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Why Are Online Casinos So Popular?

It seems everywhere you go you hear people talking about this online casino or that one, and if you have yet to get in on the action you may be wondering why online casinos are so popular. Casinos have always been destinations and people either love them or they don't, but the introduction of the online casino has made these games even more popular. In essence, the online casino is exposing the younger generations to casino games that they may not have experienced otherwise.

The Popularity Makes Sense
If you are an old school casino lover and you play in the brick and mortar casinos still you may be wondering why the online casinos are as popular as they are right now. The answer is simple really: they are popular because they are convenient. Our culture today is all about what is most convenient. Think about it, we shop at the stores that are most convenient, bank with the banks that are nearest to us, we have the services that offer us the most convenient, and there are many other examples of this out there today. We live in very busy times where there is often not all that much free time, which means limited amounts of time for entertainment. The online casino offers people a convenient way to get the entertainment that they seek and they can fit it into their schedule at just about any time of the day or night.

Many people like online casinos better than the brick and mortar casinos because it allows for them to play the games that they like without commuting to the casino. Many cities don't have their own casino or if they do, it is way out on the edge of town. Traffic and commute times aren't what most people enjoy and because of this many people are simply staying home and turning on their computer. Sounds lazy, but the fact of the matter is that this too comes back to convenience.

Other people like the online casinos because they provide a more calm atmosphere. If you enjoy casino games but you are easily distracted you may like playing online better. There are no large crowds, no noise, and no need to deal with loud players at the same table with you. Instead, you can choose how much noise you want to surround yourself with because you are in your own home.

If you visit a very busy casino you may have had the experience of waiting to play the game of your choice. There is nothing worse than waiting around to play a game that you would like to play, but when you game online you don't have to worry about this. The casino is always open, there are plenty of games to choose from, and a table is always open. You simply cannot get this at your local casino at any time that you choose.

As you can see, there are many reasons that people are frequenting the online casinos and a wide variety of explanations as to why online casinos are so popular. People are always looking for a new way to do things, and it just so happens that playing online is more convenient and simply more comfortable than playing in a brick and mortar casino. If you haven't tried it out for yourself yet, you might want to take a peak; you may surprise yourself at how much you like it! You may never replace the brick and mortar casino with online varieties, but there may be some instances where it is a better choice for you!

Dan plays at many online casinos that offer live dealer games in the UK. You can play at a live roulette and especially live European roulette.

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Can You Trust Online Casinos?

Do online casinos cheat? If you're thinking about beginning online gambling, it's a question you want answering. After all, gambling is risky by its very nature - you don't want to add to that risk by playing somewhere that's going to cheat you out of your winnings, or not allow you to win at all!

But there are gamblers out there who will still tell you that all online casinos are rigged, that 'impossible' things happen too often for them to be truly random.

This is a misconception, but it's fairly common, and due I believe to a number of things:

Reason #1 - when you're gambling online, you can play many more games per hour than you can in a land-based casino. You're playing alone, so you don't have to wait for others to place their bets or be paid out. There are no physical chips or cards or balls, so there's no 'clearing up' to be done between games. The cards are dealt quicker, the Roulette wheel takes less time to spin, the dice are always ready to be thrown.

Because of this, unusual things will occur much more often than in 'real' casinos. They'll not occur more frequently in terms of probability, but they will in terms of actual time.

For example, the chance of getting 6 consecutive blacks in Roulette is approximately 1 in 64. If it takes two minutes between spins of the Roulette wheel in a real casino, this event will only occur once every two hours. If you're playing 3 rounds a minute (possible in an online casino), it will occur every twenty minutes! In both cases, the probability is the same, but the impression is that an unusual event is happening far more often, which must be because the online casino is rigged!

Reason #2 - when you play online, you're playing alone. I touched on this above, explaining how this affects the speed of games, but there's an important psychological implication to this, too. If you play Blackjack in a real casino with four other players, even if you don't win for a few rounds, the likelihood is that someone at your table will.

You could easily go ten hands without winning, but because you see others winning and, therefore, see the casino losing, you believe that the casino is honest.

Online, you focus purely on your own results. Suddenly, because you don't see anyone else win or the casino lose, those ten losing hands seem to be against all probability. The reason? Clearly, the casino must be rigged!

Reason #3 - everyone involved in online casino gambling has to be honest about this: in the early days, some casinos cheated. It's an unfortunate fact, and for many years did nothing to improve players' confidence in the honesty of online casinos.

Fortunately, things have now changed. The online casino industry is one of the most regulated of all businesses. Those 'rogue' casinos have been run out of town - named and shamed and blacklisted by the numerous industry watchdogs.

These industry ombudsmen exist to uphold the image of fairness and reliability and will step in to investigate and resolve any player disputes. So long as you're playing at a regulated casino site, you'll be protected against any wrongdoing.

In the UK, things are even stricter. Since the Gambling Act was enforced last year, only regulated casinos are allowed to advertise or be promoted. In this case, regulated means licensed in an approved jurisdiction. This caused major headaches as many of the biggest casinos suddenly found themselves outside this so-called 'White List'. Most have now moved operations to places such as Malta, but some have resisted and are now unable to promote to UK and EU players.

In conclusion, online casinos don't cheat, they're not rigged and they are fair.

Before you start to gamble online, you'd be well advised to check out your options. Many thousands of so-called 'portal sites' exist whose job it is to compare and contrast online casinos and recommend the casino that will best suit your needs.

My advice to anyone contemplating online gambling is to visit one of these portals, safe in the knowledge that the casinos recommended there are licensed, regulated and - above all - honest!

Andy Follin runs Fortune Palace, regarded as one of the best online gambling guides for gamblers of all levels, from beginner to high roller, that includes game strategies, online casino reviews, the latest online casino bonus offers and a detailed deposit guide for ALL players, including those from the USA.

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